19-year-old Arsenal player reveals what he wants to do every weekend

Arsenal’s Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund did not go according to plan for Arsene Wenger’s side, with the German club winning 2-0. But there was one plus point, with Spanish right-back Hector Bellerin handed his first senior start.

Following the match the Arsenal player spoke to the club’s official website about how he felt making his first start for the club and what it was like facing Jurgen Klopp’s side.

“They came with so much tempo at the start with their quick players up front,” Bellerin said.

“We tried to start the game with the same tempo as them but we couldn’t, and that’s something we need to work on for our next game.”

Bellerin impressed for Arsenal during pre-season and with Mathieu Debuchy side-lined he could have plenty more chances to impress in the weeks ahead.

Wenger will have a decision to make between Bellerin and Calum Chambers, who was not picked to start against Dortmund due to illness, but the 19-year-old has both the skill and the confidence to succeed at the Emirates Stadium.

On his first start he said, “But it was a dream come true for me tonight. It’s always your dream as a kid to make your debut in the Champions League. On the other hand, I’m gutted and we’ve just got to work harder in the next game.”

That next game is against high-flying Aston Villa, and the Gunners will know they will have to be at their best given that Paul Lambert’s side is undefeated so far this season.

And Bellerin certainly has his eye on more starts in the future.

“(Playing first team football) is what I want to be doing every weekend,” he added. “It’s good to get minutes with the under-21s but what you’re here for is to play games with the first team.”

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. He has worked for HITC for four years and is now Head of Editorial and Journalist Standards.